Once you go chest, you never go neck

My usual frag application routine was 3 to the neck (front, right-left) and once to my forearm. Due to the climate, sillage was always not a problem..longevity was good too for most scents. However, i always got hit by olfactory fatigue within an hour after application. I could still detect my SotD everytime i move my neck but i never could gauge how strong was the sillage. So recently my gf asked me the necessity of applying so much cologne every time we went out. I was kinda shocked and had a feeling i had become "Mr. Way too much cologne wearer". So after much research here i discovered that application to the unexposed chest was the recommended way to apply cologne.

I was sceptical at 1st about chest application. But soon enough i realised how much more i appreciated my SotD. Instead of a constant bombardment to my nose i got the occasional whiff all day long. Even the longevity and sillage of Clinique Happy, Chanel Pour Monsieur, Gucci By Gucci Pour Homme and Eau Sauvage were improved significantly. Meanwhile for powerhouses like Antaeus, Kouros and Azzaro PH, even 4 sprays to the chest doesn't make me nauseous. In the past even 2 sprays of any of those powerhouses made feel nauseous even lightheaded at times. So now i no longer apply to the neck instead its 4 sprays to the upper and mid chest area..sometimes an extra 1 or 2 to the forearms if i want a greater sillage coverage.

However i do notice that applying to the chest does decrease the sillage a notch or two compared to application to exposed skin (neck, forearms,etc). Has anyone noticed this?

Another disadvantage is my clothes now have to be washed after each wear because the cologne sticks to the shirt.

So i highly recommend application to the chest for those facing issues with longevity/sillage because Once you go Chest, You never go neck.

Another question: Does 4 sprays of Kouros to the chest seem excessive?

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

I like my sillage the way it is, but thanks for the recommendation! Your gf might have a sensitive nose, so just don't spray on the neck around her. If you liked your sillage when you sprayed on your neck, I say why not do it?

Oh, and about the 4 sprays of Kouros, 2 is WAY more than enough, 4 would be putting your nose and other people's noses at risk!

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Originally Posted by mcjra

I like my sillage the way it is, but thanks for the recommendation! Your gf might have a sensitive nose, so just don't spray on the neck around her. If you liked your sillage when you sprayed on your neck, I say why not do it?

Oh, and about the 4 sprays of Kouros, 2 is WAY more than enough, 4 would be putting your nose and other people's noses at risk!

I admit i like the sillage i was getting fr spraying the neck but the problem was it was too intense. Well for the 1st 30mins maybe it was great but when it goes on for about an hour it can be quite sickening.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

One other possibility to those that like the sillage from the neck application is to spray on the chest and then spray ONE spray to the back of the neck. That way when you walk past someone you leave a "trail" of scent behind you.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Originally Posted by mtgprox05

One other possibility to those that like the sillage from the neck application is to spray on the chest and then spray ONE spray to the back of the neck. That way when you walk past someone you leave a "trail" of scent behind you.

I tried spraying to the back of the neck before but i tend to sweat a lot at the back of the neck so the scent gets sweated away literally.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

I go for both and don't mind who may think I'm 'Mr. Too Much Cologne'. My wife doesn't mind. Glad you like your new application method, but a word of advice: don't always give in to your gf's complaints, it may set a bad precedent.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

That's a great way to put it, but I've never been a "neck" guy -- chest always for me

Me too!

Normally, two or three sprays to the center of my chest depending upon the volume dispensed by the sprayer and the strength of the fragrance.

Last edited by TwoRoads; 29th June 2009 at 06:21 PM.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, ...... I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Well, someone needs to say it. I'd rather hope that you'd wash your shirt after ever wear in any case.

Originally Posted by Dr_Rudi

That said, why not wait a little until you put your shirt on; or alternatively, rub that fragrance in?

Yes!

Everything works much better if you let your fragrance dry-to-the-touch before covering it with clothing.

[I do not put oils on areas that will be underneath clothing - they will get stained.]

Last edited by TwoRoads; 29th June 2009 at 11:56 PM.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, ...... I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Well, someone needs to say it. I'd rather hope that you'd wash your shirt after ever wear in any case.

That said, why not wait a little until you put your shirt on; or alternatively, rub that fragrance in?

No.

I do wait for maybe 1 or 2 minutes before i put my clothes on. I'm in the rush most of the time so i don't think i have like 10-15 mins to spare in order to let the fragrance dry. Nevertheless i guess i'll try to let the fragrance dry properly 1st.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

I was a "neck" sprayer back in the day, and my excessive sillage was kindly pointed out to me by friends. I resolved it by using very little scent, and generally getting NO sillage. Since becoming a BNer, I began using the chest and under the arms for most frags, and have found it to be much better for getting controlled sillage and nice longevity.

Under the arm gets me a little bit different results than down the shirt or between the pecs. I find that under the arm increases the relative amount of base notes just a bit, and results in a slightly "lower" set of notes than I obtain by normal chest sprays. This seems to help make feminines come across more unisex. But I have to be careful. Counterintuitively, if I clamp down my arms, the frag heats up, and it can result in a stronger scent within about a minute or two. Conversely, if I keep my arms spread out a bit, it cools down the frag, and sillage is reduced. This gives some nice voluntary control over sillage. Under the arm is also a nice way to gauge how much scent is enough. Once under each arm is about equivalent to normal application of a high end deo stick. I may add only two sprays to that - one on the chest and on light one on one arm. I find that it rarely gets out of hand that way.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

I'm a big advocate of spraying to the chest to maximize personal sillage while not offending others, though I sit a lot and so I can't say how good this would be if you are usually doing a lot of walking. As to Kouros, one spray to the ankle (with pants leg then pulled down to cover the area) was way too much for me !

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

My husband sprays a spray or two on the chest and just to the bottom of the sternum. He has oily skin and this helps. Yes, a hairy chest does help hold the fragrance. Always lets it dry before donning a shirt. (The evolutionary reason for hair by some scientists--to spread those pheromones!)

BTW, spraying on the chest when your manly chest happens to be at the level of most people's noses will get people to notice your sillage, I guarantee it. Ballroom dancing with tall men sticks a woman's face right into their perfume, so use good judgement. For instance, at 6'3"--this tall perfume-user attracted notice with a pint of eau de jasmine, I'm sure. Is that a great chest, or what? And probably hairy, too, reading of the incredibly thick auburn whiskers and the menton bleu.

"...put on clothes that are well-scented with incense. Even if you’re somewhere where no one special will see you, you still feel a heady sense of pleasure inside." Things that make your heart beat fast (translated by Meredith McKinney), Sei Shonagon. The Pillow Book.

"The sunset is deeper and longer. The scent of the jasmine is stronger." Miracles. Pet Shop Boys

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Originally Posted by JoNnY 4

I do wait for maybe 1 or 2 minutes before i put my clothes on. I'm in the rush most of the time so i don't think i have like 10-15 mins to spare in order to let the fragrance dry. Nevertheless i guess i'll try to let the fragrance dry properly 1st.

Most fragrances are alcohol-based, they only need a couple of minutes to dry.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, ...... I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

The holding and dispersal of scent are based on skin oil, skin temperature and movement. That is why women spray in the cleavage.

Think about where the human body has hair. The scalp/hair, for instance, have a lot of oil, though this is not always the ideal place for scent in this day and age. (In bygone times, people used scented hair pomades--for men, it was macassar oil. Think about those "lace" or fabric antimacassars still seen on chair backs, esp. on airplanes.)

I would recommend covered areas of the body--loosely covered by clothing. The fabric holds the body heat in and the movement disperses the scent.

"...put on clothes that are well-scented with incense. Even if you’re somewhere where no one special will see you, you still feel a heady sense of pleasure inside." Things that make your heart beat fast (translated by Meredith McKinney), Sei Shonagon. The Pillow Book.

"The sunset is deeper and longer. The scent of the jasmine is stronger." Miracles. Pet Shop Boys

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

I am completely un-scientific about the number of sprays or what body parts to spritz.

I spray my chest, back of my neck, forearms and biceps. I spray heavy because of skin type and am usually in a social environment 45 minutes after spraying on a scent. By then, what started out as over-application is now the perfect amount for my skin.

Re: Once you go chest, you never go neck

Originally Posted by Primrose

The holding and dispersal of scent are based on skin oil, skin temperature and movement. That is why women spray in the cleavage.

Think about where the human body has hair. The scalp/hair, for instance, have a lot of oil, though this is not always the ideal place for scent in this day and age. (In bygone times, people used scented hair pomades--for men, it was macassar oil. Think about those "lace" or fabric antimacassars still seen on chair backs, esp. on airplanes.)

I would recommend covered areas of the body--loosely covered by clothing. The fabric holds the body heat in and the movement disperses the scent.

Really good explanation. How about parts of the covered upper body that tend to sweat a lot? is it recommended to spray those places ?